Ship&#39;s instrument



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Filed Jan, 25, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w w w x 4 a l M 5/ w ,zv we7ii'or George walker,

Aug. 16, 1927. 1,638,972

G. WALKER SHIPS INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 25, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Georgie 2060272127 G. WALKER Aug. 16, 1927. 1,638,972

SHIP S INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 25, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 java/hac Gorge waZ76e7",

Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

GEORGE WALKER, O1 NEWTON CENTER, MASSACHUSETTS;

smr's INSTRUMENT.

I Application filed January 25, 1923. Serial No. 614,86.

This invention relates to apparatus for indicatlng the speed of movement and the distance traversed by a moving object, and is particularly adapted and intended for use- 5 on ships, being a further development of the ship instruments disclosed in my copending applications Serial Nos. 273,744 and 319,392, filed January 29, 1919, and August 23, 1919, respectively, also in my copending application Serial No. 614,838 filed on etten date herewith. I

Objects of the invention are to pr vide an improved instrument for indicati g the speed of rotation of driving means and for translating the speed of the drivin 1 means into a distance indication, whether t espeed be constant or variable, to simplify the complicated and delicate driving mechanism heretofore employed for such instruments,

and in general to render'such devices more accurate and reliable in service and to over come the defects of previous instruments of this kind.

In one aspect, the invention comprises an indicator and a rotating member adjacent the indicator and a magnetic clutching device for selectively causin the indicator to rotate with the'member to indicate the speed thereof. The rotating member is preferably mounted coaxially with the indicator and the energizing of the magnetic clutch is preferably automatically controlled in a manner to cause the indicator to be actuated during alternate predetermined periods. During the periods of rest, the indicator may be retained in stopped position by suitable means such as an electromagnetic clutching device mounted in a fixed position.

In another aspect, the invention comprises mechanism for speed and distance indicating having a plurality of pairs of indicators, the pointers of each pair being actuated in alternation during predetermined periods of time in proportion to the speed of rotation of the driving or propelling means of the land, water or air vehicle on which the mechanism is mounted, and alternately held in stopped position by suitable means such as electromagnetic clutching devices automatically controlled until reset. The invention further comprises means for steadying the movement of a shaft arranged to be rotated at a speed equal or proportional to the speed of another shaft.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one concrete embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front 'elevational view partly broken away of the dials and mechanism upon the front face of a supporting plate of a speed and distance measuring device embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the mechanlsm on the opposite side of the supporting plate to that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the mechanism behind one of the dials shown in.Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

.Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. ,7 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram with certain of the mechanical elements diagrammatically illustrated.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a speed indicating and distance indicating device for use on a vehicle whether propelled on the land, sea, or in the air, and the description which follows is to be so interpreted, but for convenience the apparatus will'be called a ships instrument.

As indicated in Fig. 1, which shows in elevation the front face of a supporting plate 9 upon which the mechanism of the device is mounted, a plurality of graduated dials 10 are provided in pairs; there being one pair in excess of the number of propellers on the ship. In the embodiment shown the apparatus is designed for a ship having two propellers, one on the port and one on -the starboard side. The pair of dials 10 on the right have indicators S and S adapted to be advanced at a rate proportional to speed of 100 the starboard propeller to count the revolutions of the starboard propeller during -alternate predetermined periods of time, such as alternate minutes. The pair of dials on the left have indicators P and 1? arranged 105 to count in a similar manner the revolutions of the port propeller. The center pair of dials have indicators A and Ato count in a similar manner the average number of revolutions of both propellers. The pointers of 110 each set are driven respectively from shafts s, a, and throu h trains of gears as indicated in l ig. 1, t e last gear'of each train, namely 8, 8 a, a, p, and 11 being mounted for free turning movement upon the ams .of its correspond ng indicator. The drivin connection and the manner of closing an breaking the same will be later set forth.

Referrin now to Figs. 2 a nd 3, wherein 1s disclose the mechanism on the rear of supporting plate 9, the connections by whichv the shafts s, a andp, are constantly driven at rates proportional to the speed of the propellers w1ll be described. Shafts a and may be driven by suitable gearing directfy from the starboard and port propeller shafts if desired, but since the instrument will ordinarily be mounted at a point remote from such propeller shafts, as in the navigating room, means driven synchronously with the propellers and at the same or proportional speed thereto are preferably provided. Such means may comprise shafts 11 and 12 which may be driven in any suitable manner and by any known mechanism through mechanical, pneumatic or electric connections either continuously or intermittently. Shaft s is driven from shaft 11 through the train of gears comprlsing a gear 11 on shaft 11, gear 13 1n mesh therewith having a smaller gear 14 in mesh with gear 15 on shaft 8. In a similar manner shaft p is driven from shaft 12 through a gear 12' thereon in mesh with gear wheel 16 carrying a smaller gear 17 which meshes with gear wheel 18 on shaft p. Shaft a is driven at the average speed of shafts p and 8 through a differential A the bevelled ears 19 and 20 of which are loosely mounte for free rotation upon shaft (1 and are respectively driven by shafts s and-p through gears 15, 21 and 22 and 18, 23 and 24 respectively, gears 22 and 24 being fast on bevelled gears 19., 20 respectively. Shaft a carries arms 25 having bevelled pinions 26 mounted thereon in mesh with both of the bevelled gears 19 and 20 whereby said pinions serve as followers in the differential A in advancing shaft (1 at the average speed of shafts s and Any suitable supporting means may be provided havin bearings for shafts s, a and p and the intermediate gears such as hearing plate 27 having cross-bars 28 supported in spaced relation to base plate 9 by posts 29.

Suitable means are preferably provided for steadying the rotation of the shafts, one form of such apparatus being disclosed in Fig. 2 in which arms or levers 31 and 32 are provided mounted on a suitable pivot 33, the free ends of the arms being yieldingly drawn or held together by resilient means such as a coil spring 34 for the purpose of applying a balanced yielding pressure upon shafts 11 and 12 respectively, preferably produced, whic through contact blocks 35' of suitable-material such ashard rubber or bakelite which bear directly upon shafts 11 and 12, as indicated. The ielding braking effect thus may be adjusted by using springs of difi'erent strengths, prevents overthrow of the shafts and renders the rotation thereof steady and uniform.

' The mechanism by.,which the various indi'cators are caused to rotate to count the revolutions of the propelling means, to be stopped and held in stooped position to in-. dicate. the propeller speed, and to be reset prior to being again connected with the driving mechanism, will now be set forth, reference being had to Figs. 4 and 7 inclusive.

Since the mechanism is identical for the indicator on each dial, disclosure of but one- Wlll be made in detail, as for example the.

mechanism for operating the pointer P, which is mounted upon the shaft p- As indicated in Figs. 4. and 5 shaft 7) has its bearings in supporting plate 9 and in a spanner plate 37 supported in spaced relation to plate 9 by posts 38. Openings 39 in the outer ends of posts 38 rovide means for securing the dial 10 in. p ace as by screws 40. As previously described, the gear P which is continuously driven from shaft p through the train of gears disclosed in Fig. 1 is mounted for free rotation on shaft 72 through the provision of a hub 41 engaging the shaft 72 on both sides of a shoulder.

42 thereon, the hub 41 having an annular member 44 secured thereon as by means of a flange 43 on said hub. Mounted upon the annular member 44 is an electromagnet F which is preferably circular in form and mounted concentric with shaft p and to the frame of this magnet the gear wheel p is secured as by screws 45. Upon the electromagnet F is mounted an annulus 46 of insulating material carrying on its outerperiphcry two contact rings 47 and 48 which have electrical connections .to the winding of the electromagnet F through isuitaible openings or recesses 49 and 50 in the annulus 46 and the magnet frame, the contact rings 47 and 48 serving as means for completing the circuit from a source of power to the windings of the magnet through suitable brushes not shown. Op-

posed to magnet F is another electromagnet.

G which may also be circular in form and which i immovably mounted u on the frame of the apparatus by means of a plate 53 to which the magnet may be secured by suitable means such as screws 54. Plate 53 has an opening 534 through which shaft p? passes and is supported in any suitable manner as bysleeves 55 which engage posts 38 and are held in fixed position thereon by pins 56. Keyed to shaft by suitable means such as a pin 58 extemfing through a. hub 59 is a plate .60, preferably circular in form aseaera and arranged to be interposed between the spaced electromagnets F and G to serve as a common armature therefor. The bearings tor the shaft p permit a slight amount at play so that the armature plate 60 .may be drawn against the face of either of the magnets i and G. To prevent the armature plate from adhering to the electromagnets after the same have been deenergized the faces of these magnets are preferably covered withv a sheet 61 of. suitable diamagnetic material, such as heavy oiled paper,

mounted upon supporting plate 9.

cardboard, fiber board, celluloid .or the like.

In the operation of the device, electromagnet F serves as a magnetic clutch for causing the indicator 1? to rotate with the gear 10 during a predetermined period. At the close of this period the magnet l is deenergized and the magnet G simultaneously energized so that the armature plate released by the magnet l is immediately clamped to magnet G, thus retaining indicator P in the position in which it is stopped at the end of the predetermined period. Shortly before the end of a following-predetermined period during which the companionindicator or indicator P is operating, magnet G is deenergizeol and the indicator P is reset to initial position.

The resetting mechanism may comprise a resetting spring, 63 having one end thereon secured to'the shaft 39 the spring being housed in a suitable casing 64 attached to supporting plate 9. One form of resetting spring which is preferably used by reason of the fact that it will not break if, through accident, an indicator continues to rotate "for a considerable time in a forward direction consists of a coiled spring which is anchored at one end and which frictionally engages the casing 64 at the opposite end. To steady the movement -oi the pointer l and to prevent the too rapid rotation of the shaft 0 when reset, suitable means are pro vided, such as an escape wheel 65 'having its hub-66 keyed to the shaft p and having upon its periphery teeth 67 of suitable form engaged by an escape lever 68 pivotally Stop mechanism is provided on escape wheel 65 to arrest the resetting movement of shaft 7) at the initial position of the indicator comprising a lever or arm 70 pivoted at '31 to wheel 65 adjacent the periphery thereof, the lever being yieldingly held by a spring 70 in an outwardly disposed position defined by a stop pin 72 thereon which engages the rim of wheel 65, (see Fi 6) so that the extremity of the lever a uts the post 68 upon which the escape lever 68 is pivoted. Obviously lever 70 does not interfere with the rotation of shaft p in an indicating direction since the lever will then ride over the post 68, but onlyv functions as a stop when the shaft is reset. Rebound of shaft p when reset is prevented by a lever 74 having a notch 75 adapted to engage teeth 6? on escape wheel 65, lever 74 being pivoted at 76 to plate 9 and yieldingly ur ed into engagement with the escape whee by. coil spring 76. A. solenoid H is arranged to withdraw and to hold the lever 7-1 out of engagement with escape wheel 65 when indicator P is moving in an indicating direction.

For the purpose or indicating the distance traversed by the ship, distance indicating wheels 78 and 7 9 (Figs. 2 and 8) are mounted on the shafts of average speed indicators A and A at the back of plate 9' to translate the average speed of the propelling means into a distance indication. 'lhese distance Wheels have a plurality of electrical contacts 78 and 79 on the periphery thereof (Fig. 8) representing units of distance traversing at various propeller speeds and are preferably of the type described in detail in my copending application Serial 614,838, filed on even date herewith. As diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 8, distance Wheels 78 and Z9 alternately but continuously operate a distance counting device 80 which is actuated through a ratchet connection controlled by electromagnet E, the electrical circuit thereto being through a double spring contact arm 82 which engages the contacts 2'8 and 79 on wheels 78 and 79 respectively, lever connection 83 therefor, conductor 84 to electromagnet E to ground. A magnet 85 may be connected in parallel with magnet E to actuate a compass recorder as disclosed in Serial No. 614,839, filed on even date herewith.

The general operation of the instrument is substantially the same as set forth in my previously tiled applications; i. e. the upper and the lower rows of indicators register in alternation the speed of the various propellers and oi. the ship. As indicated by the position of the parts in Fig. l, the indicators in the upper row are counting the revolutions oi the ships propellers, and the indicators in the lower row are held in stopped position to show the speed during the preceding interval such as one minute. Just before the end of the interval, the lower row of indicators are reset to initial or normal position, and at the end of the interval the upper row of indicators are stopped and held in stopped position by the energization or the magnetic clutches While the lower row of indicators are simultaneously started through the energization of the rotating magnetic clutches.

Fig. 8 diagrammatically indicates the elec tric connections and apparatus by which the device is automatically operated continuously to give a'speed and distance indication of the progress of the ship. The changes in circuits by which the pairs of indicators are alternately connected to the driving means are controlled by chronometer switches hi and cated at K Chronometer switch K has one point of contact which is closed at the end of each interval, and chronometer switch K has two contact points which are closed just before the ends of alternate intervals respective- 1y. These chronometer switches may be operated by the same chronometer as disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 614,838.

The chronometer switch K controls the operation of the distance indicating aparatus and of the magnetic clutching evices through opposed magnets A and B which in turn control a switch in the form of an arm or lever 86','and the chronometer switch K operates a similar armature switch which controls magnets A, B, G, G, etc. Since the contacts K, K, and K are closed only momentarily and since the armature switches 86 and 90 actuated thereby close circuit: which must continue closed until another actuation, the armature switches 86and 90 may take the form of any of the well-known double throw switch devices in which the moving arm is yieldingly retained in the position to which it is thrown until positively thrown to its other position. The lever or rela 86. operates, by means of insulated link 87, ever 88 and a second link 83, the spring contact member 82 of the distance indicating mechanism.

While the diagram as shown on Fig. 8 is arranged to provide that all of the indicators in the upper row of each pair thereof shall operate simultaneously while the lower row is retained in stopped position and vice versa, for the sake of'convenience the magnets F and G and F and G for but one pair of indicators is shown, the connections or leads to the other magnets of the upper set and lower set of indicators being indicated by reference characters F F, G, G,- F,, F G 2 and G' The magnets for controlling the sto pawls 74 see H in Fi s. 6 and 7) are indi- H, H, H and H,, these magnets corresponding to F,-F F, F;, F and F respectively.

The operation of the apparatus according to the diagram is as follows:

With the partsin the positions shown mag nets E and 35 are operating underthe control of upper wheel 78. Just before the end of the contemporaneous minute or other 1nterval chronometer switch K closes circuit through magnet 0,, (contact In and conductor 97) thereby shifting armature 90 to its alternate position (1) to condition circuit 99 to energize magnet A when switch K closes at the end of the interval and deenergizing magnet G (by breaking the circuit at 90) to release armature 60 to permit lower wheel 7 9;t0' be reset by its resetting s ring, and (2) to energize magnet G throug 104. However armature 60, being in contact with magnet 1 remains in frictional engagement therewith until the latter is deenergized. At the end of the interval chronometer switch K closes circuit through magnet A to shift armature 86 to its left-hand position thereby simultaneously effecting three changes, viz: deenergizing magnet F (by breaking circuit 86, 93, and 91 magnet G (through circuit 86, 99, 90, and 104 to shift armature 60 from the rotatin magnet F to the stationary magnet G and t ereby stopping and holding the upper wheel 78; energizing magnet F (through circuit 86, 101 and magnetically to clamp armature 60 thereto and thereby start lower wheel 79; and shifting switch 82 from the upper wheel 78 to the lower wheel 79, thereby placing the magnets E and 35 under the controlof lower wheel 79 for the next interval. Just before the end of this interval chronometer switch K contacts In, thereb shifting armature 90 to its right-hand pos tion to effect the following changes, viz: magnet G is deenergized to permit the upper wheel 78 to reset, and the circuit of magnet G is closed. At the end of the interval chronometer switch K closes the circuit of magnet B, thereby throwing armature 86 to its right-hand position simultaneouslv to effect the following changes, viz: magnet F is deenergized and magnet G acts on armature 60 to stop and hold lower wheel 79; magnet F is energized to start the upper wheel 78; and switch 82 is shifted from lower wheel 79 to upper wheel 78. Thus magnets E and 35 are continuousl but alternately controlled by wheel 78 and 7 9.

From the above it will be apparent that the speed indicating and distance indicating mechanism herein disclosed is characterized by a small number of moving parts and a simplicity of operation which enhances greatly its freedom from mechanical disarrangement and its accuracy in operation, that the throwing into and out of the driving connection is accomplished without the meshin of gears with the chipped and broken teet or deformed wheels which often result from failure of the teeth to mesh, that by the use of electromagnetic clutching devices the drive of the indicators is positive, that lost motion and dela in making the driving connection 'is entire y eliminated and that the holding magnet retains the indicator in exactly the position in which it stopped.

I claim:

1. A ships instrument comprising speedcontrolled means constantly operated in roportion to the 's' eed of the ship-pi opel 'ng means, an oscilla ory member adjacent said speed controlled means, means including a magnetic clutch for making a driving connection between said member and said speedcontrolled means for a predetermined period, means for breaking said connection at the end of said period and holding said member thereby permitting llb 2.,A ships instrumentcomprising apair of revolution counters, speed-controlled means operated in proportion to the speed of the ship propelling means associated with said counters,-means for alternately connecting and disconnecting. the counters of said pair to and from said speed-controlled means including magnetic clutch devices, and means for resetting said counters after being disconnected from said speed-controlled means.

3. A ships instrumentcomprising means operated in proportion to the speed of each of the ship propellers, means operated in proportion to the average speed of all of the propellers, a pair of indicators associated with each of said means, mechanism including magnetic clutch ,devices for alternately COIIHGCtlHg theindicator of said pairs with said means, and means for resetting each of said indicators when disconnected;-

4. In a device of the class described, a rotating member, an indicator member having a shaft concentric with said rotating memher, and electromagnet means on one of said -members for clutching said members together whereby said indicator member may indicate the speed of said rotating member.

5. In a device of the class described an indicator adapted to be rotatively advanced in one direction, resetting means for said indicator yieldingly urging it to initial position, means for actuating said indicator during recurrent periods of time to give an indication of the speed of a moving body, and electromagnetic means for retaining said indicator in the position in which it is disengaged by said actuating means until near the beginning of the next period.

6. A ships instrument comprising a rotatable indicator, means for yieldingly urging said indicator to initial position, a stationary member and a rotating member adjacent said indicator, and means for gripping said indicator to either of said members whereby it may be caused to rotate With the first or held stationary with the second.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 27th day of December, 1922.

GEORGE WALKER. 

